Philip Graves – the new threat
When 20-year old Philip Graves followed up his win at 70.3 UK with a victory at Ironman UK, he served notice that he is someone to keep an eye on moving forward. Will there be another British sensation in Kona before too long? Slowtwitch had a few words with him.
Slowtwitch: How sore are you after that monster effort at Ironman UK?
Philip: Well I can finally walk down stairs unaided now! The couple of days afterward were particularly bad as I had never run as far as that, let alone all on road so the legs were in absolute pieces. I have done some easy kick in the pool and a few rides that have managed to get them back to feeling somewhere near normal.
ST: The course is considered one of the most challenging ones on the Ironman circuit, but that seemingly didn’t hinder you too much.
Philip: It’s what you expect when you race in this country really so I am used to it. I have been riding the national time trial series and some of these events are based on sporting courses. The National 100 mile TT championships were also based around quite a tough rolling course with the first 60 miles on dual carriageways and the last 40 miles on normal A and B roads which made for some hard riding in the last half of the race. I think that after my win at Wimbleball in the 70.3 I knew no course would be as tough as that, ultimately they could only get easier! I find that a lot of guys, particularly on the TT circuit are fine on the flat but as soon as they hit a rise things seem to go to pot. As with any course it’s the same for everyone, I just try and control the controllable factors and manage the uncontrollable ones, the course been the same for everyone so it’s always going to be a level playing field.
ST: A little while back you won 70.3 UK with an equally impressive performance. How do the 2 wins compare?
Philip: I have tried to reflect on this and have thought about this a lot. Winning 70.3 was just so emotional for me, it was my first Ironman branded race and I have grown up always wanting to be part of the Ironman family. I have had pictures of Norman Stadler and Natasha Badmann on my wall at the side of my bed for the past 3 years so when I wake up I see them and it gives me extra motivation to train. Crossing the line at 70.3 I just broke down, as it was everything I could have dreamed of and more, to beat people I have looked up to and actually win a 70.3 race at my first attempt was just amazing. I had worked so hard, as this year was a make or break year for me, as I was so close to trying to make it as a pro cyclist at the end of last season I thought I would give triathlon one last chance. I put everything in to this year to try and get some results and when it all pays off the feeling is incredible.
ST: At that 70.3 race you rode away from Swedish powerhouse Bjorn Andersson and that isn’t something too many folks can brag about.
Philip: In all fairness to Bjorn I don’t think the course really suited him been so hilly. I saw him the day before and just though to myself, god, he’s built like a brick house, how is he going to be able to manage all those hills? I can imagine his average wattage is crazy! It’s just great to be able to race all these legends of the sport, people who I have grown up watching and following. It was such an honour to race against Lothar Leder at IMUK, he is basically the Roger Banister of the triathlon world and it was a privilege to race him.
ST: When will we see you race outside the UK?
Philip: Hawaii will be the first time I will race out of the UK. I keep telling people if you can’t do well racing at home then what is the point in trying to go abroad and try and get a result for yourself there? Ultimately I feel you need to conquer your own back yard before you start on a quest to conquer the world. Now I have won both my home races I feel I can now try and broaden my horizons and race all across the globe.
ST: There has been talk about you possibly crushing the bike course record in Kona. What kind of time do you think is possible?
Philip: To be brutally honest I have no idea having never been there. This year I am just concentrating going out there, assessing the race and the conditions so I can come home and have a greater understanding of what it will take to try and race as fast as possible over not only the bike but the whole race itself. I have been told the course itself isn’t actually that hard it’s just what comes with it been in Hawaii, we will just have to wait and see!
ST: With Torbjorn Sindballe out of the picture in Kona, who do you see as your biggest bike split challengers?
Philip: I don’t really know as there are so many strong riders out there. Obviously Stadler and Lieto are the two big names on the bike but I think there could be a few surprises this time round. Andy Potts is obviously a great all round athlete and his performance at Kona last year was just immense given that it was his first every Ironman. When I found out Sindballe was retiring I was actually really sad as I would have loved to dual with him at Hawaii this year. Since IMUK he has even dropped me a few emails which I really appreciate as he is a great role model for us younger athletes.
ST: Beyond a good bike split, what overall place do you think is possible?
Philip: Obviously everyone wants to win Hawaii, I feel it’s the pinnacle of Human athletic achievement so obviously one day I want it to be my time. This year there is no pressure, it will be my 1st time out there and as I have said it is just about experience this year, if I get a result out of it I will be over the moon but if not then I am sure I will learn a lot and be able to take home some valuable experiences with me.
ST: You also have raced some ITU races, but as a strong cyclist that would not seem to be your cup of tea.
Philip: Everyone thinks that ITU races are just really running races but things are starting to change. I just don’t have the speed to be able to run a 32minute 10km off the bike so really getting a result for myself is out of the question but with it becoming more a team sport who knows where the future lies. At European Championships in Holten it’s no secret I managed to create a break on the bike out of the water with Belaubre, Gomez, Alistair and a couple of others, hopefully this is the future of the sport. With the Olympics in London in 2012 it may just be too good an opportunity to miss!
ST: Do you know the Brownlees well and do you train with them at all? Or are you just beyond those distances in terms of training?
Philip: Me, Alistair and Jonny have known each other since we were all in our early teens and we all get along really well. They are just over in Leeds so sometimes I ride the 30miles over to them, do a ride with them and ride back to York. When we were 15/16 British triathlon used to hold regional training camps one weekend every month over the winter and we would all get together and put in a weekends good training be it at the velodrome in Manchester or in a bunkhouse in the Yorkshire Dales. Sadly these camps no longer exist but we had so much fun out riding and running in horizontal snow. It was just nice to train with your mates and as we were all young there was no pressure, we just did it because we all enjoyed it and it was a challenge, it was certainly the perfect introduction to triathlon.
ST: We know you have raced on the road in the UK some, but were curious if a Pro Tour road team has approached you yet?
Philip: Haha I wish! I have so much respect for professional cyclists, there job is just so immensely hard, I don’t think there is a more tough sport in the whole world, Ironman included! I tried so hard to get on the British Cycling Academy system but they wanted to see me do a full season’s worth of bike racing and as I still wanted to keep my hand in the door triathlon wise, so I couldn’t commit to that really! The reason for doing so much Time Trialing was that I wanted to get to World U23 Time Trial Championships but nothing has come of it. I do get jealous when I see those people that I raced against and beat as a junior on the road now doing really well for themselves. Adam Blythe was my age and I beat him on a regular basis and he has just signed a sagitaire contract with Silence Lotto though the best junior when I was racing was Pete Kennaugh who I think got 3rd on the GC in the baby Giro and has been putting in some amazing performances, I would tip him for a Tour Podium in the next 5 years without a shadow of a doubt; he can sprint like Cavendish and ride uphill like Wiggins!
ST: Having watched Bradley Wiggins soar to new heights in the Tour, or just watching the Tour in general, doesn’t that tickle your fancy?
Philip: At the moment I have all the time in the world; I have my whole career in front of me. Seeing a Brit do so well in the tour is so good for the sport in this country as it’s the only cycling race that gets any kind of exposure over here! I haven’t really ever been taught to ride a bike properly but id love to be thrown in at the deep end. I know however good test results are teams want to see some international cycling results on the road before they sign you but watch this space. I would certainly love to ride the Giro, Vuelta and my favorite race of the year, Paris-Nice sometime in the future; they are much more unpredictable races than the tour and much more exciting. There are however a great number of things that I want to achieve in triathlon, it would have to be a very special offer to lure me away.
ST: How different is your training now compared to a couple years ago?
Philip: I really haven’t changed much. The only reason I went to university was that at 18 I knew I wasn’t mature enough to race long distance triathlon and it just gave me an excuse not to get a job so I could train and just wait a couple of years until I could be competitive. I have always done a fair few miles, but the difference this year is I have raced much more. I also raced a solid season of x-county last winter, which I haven’t done in a few years and just been training harder and recovering better. I have always known I have had these performances in me and went though a long period where I felt people just didn’t believe in me and had lost all hope I would ever be a competitive international athlete. In the end I just wanted to prove these people wrong and now I couldn’t be happier.
ST: Talk to us how things are going for you in terms of sponsorship.
Philip: Things are going ok (but there is always room to talk to new ones!). As I didn’t have a very good season last year all of my contracts end at the end of this year so the next few months should hopefully be fun! I like the equipment I use to be the best available and will peruse a range of avenues to make me go faster, particularly when it comes to the bike as I as somewhat of a bike geek and love the whole Technology side of it! This year I have been part of the new British development team ‘Team Active Instinct’ (www.teamactivinstinct.com). The focus of the team is to develop both Olympic distance, and non-Olympic – duathlon, Ironman, Ironman 70.3 – talent, in order to see more British athletes at the top in these sports. Hopefully in the future it can grow into an F1 team equivalent and join the likes of team TBB and Dresdner Kleinwort globally. The team has a good collection of sponsors including title sponsor Activinstinct, Gatorade, Powerbar, Salifish, Saucony and has tri247 and Triathletes world as its media partners. I have also been Lucky enough to have been given a few Campagnolo groupsets from i-ride.co.uk as I prefer riding Campy.
ST: What about an off-season?
Philip: What off-season! Triathlon now is a year round sport and this been my first year on the circuit its going to be a long one! I started training after a break in August last year for this year so it has all been pretty full on since then! For the past few years I usually just go on holiday with the family, nowhere exotic, just Scotland or the Lake District. My parents have never even been abroad so Hawaii will be a whole new experience, what a place to go on your first time away from our green and pleasant land!
ST: Do you follow any other sports?
Philip: When I have time yes! Obviously I follow cycling closely and I like a bit of cricket and F1 too. There’s nothing better than following other British athletes who are doing well on a world stage.
ST: Can you share with us some of your food likes and dislikes?
Philip: Really been an athlete you can’t be too picky, I just tend to Hoover anything up. Can’t beat a bit of a KFC for the protein factor, at the moment a large part of my diet is powerbar product; I must consume about 1000 calories of powerbar products daily! Can’t really beat some good homemade food though, a nice big Yorkshire pudding with gravy and a big Sunday dinner after a long ride with the lads, heaven!
ST: What music do you like?
Philip: Depends on my mood really, I’m not too picky! After a hard day a bit of Ibiza Chillout is the only way to go but before a race like a bit of dance. Got to love the classics too, the Police, Led Zep, The Who and there are some randoms in there too but I’m not going to say for the sheer embarrassment factor.
ST: What was the last book you read?
Philip: It was actually a book about Chris Hoy, his career and the evolution of British cycling called ‘Chris Hoy, heroes, villains and Velodromes’. Was really good as I finished it the night before I raced 70.3 and it described how the British cycling psychologists inspired Chris Hoy and co before they all raced so successfully in Beijing. The one line I can remember is ‘This is your f*****g Everest’. It inspired me anyway!
ST: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Philip: Really there is so much I want to achieve; I have a list of ambitions as long as my arm. If I can just be in a position to continue doing what I enjoy, that is training, racing and traveling the world, not having to worry about a job or anything, I will be happy. Also I hope I am still the youngest ever winner of an Ironman, I want that record to stand for a while!
ST: Is there anything else we should know about you?
Philip: I don’t think so, all I would say is I hope Lance Armstrong does Hawaii in the next couple of years so I can say I have raced against him, would be amazing and really interesting to see how he gets on! I am even doing my university dissertation on how he has changed the face of cycling and brought the sport in to the 21st century. Anyways should be an interesting next couple of months, see you all on the road!
